Seattle
Greetings from the Pacific Northwest! Our trip out west was uneventful (that is, if you ignore the fact that flying an airline on which you have zero status has to be one of the least pleasant travel experiences -- checked baggage fees, long bag drop lines and even longer security lines, only to board the plane and have to eke out one little corner in the overhead storage bin (this after the steward generously tried to squeeze the bag into the bottom of one of his beverage carts!) But, I digress. Herewith is my first installment of my "blog" from the road which, as you can see, is not an actual blog -- the learning curve for creating an actual private blog was just a little too steep for my blood and so this is the best that I can do (at least for now)! For ease of reading, as well as comedic effect, I have decided to organize things by subject matter. Happy reading!
SEATTLE
What a wonderful and kid-friendly city! Lots of hip neighborhoods, a lively downtown scene, easy to navigate and lots of activities for kids. I also read that there is a foodie scene, but I must say that we were disappointed with the food in the "middle" (i.e., we didn't hit any upscale restaurants, but we also didn't visit any fast food joints). Even our search for good bagels and "the best pizza in Seattle" was a bit disappointing. I believe that Peytin summed it up best when she said "I want the food we get in New York" (in fact, she just told me that she desperately needs a rice bun from Chuko)!
Here are a few highlights:
PIKE PLACE MARKET
Although it is a less clean and hip version of the Ferry Building Marketplace in San Francisco (solely my opinion!), we did enjoy a walk through the labyrinth of vendors selling everything from fruit to fish to spices to flowers to you-name-it. Unfortunately, we didn't get to see the vendors toss any fish, but it was still worth a visit. For all of you Starbucks fans, this is the site of the original Starbucks store (hence, the name of their signature Pike Place Roast). And, speaking of Starbucks, there are over 11,000 stores in the United States and I swear that 1,000 are located in the state of Washington!
KERRY PARK
For one of the best views of the Seattle skyline, skip a ride on the Space Needle (and save a little money too) and head to Kerry Park, a small park located on the south side of Queen Anne Hill, a swanky Seattle neighborhood. And, once you have snapped your signature photo, you can drive through the neighborhood and enjoy a little real estate porn.
SEX EDUCATION
Speaking of porn, who knew that a visit to the Woodland Park Zoo would give me a chance to explain "sex" to my girls?! We arrived at the lion exhibit and were pleasantly surprised to see the male as he awoke from his nap (as you may know, lions sleep 20 hours a day). The female was still asleep, but that didn't stop the male from mounting her and having a little "fun".
Sydney & Peytin -- What is he doing?!
Me -- He is trying to wake her!
Sydney & Peytin -- She sure is a hard sleeper!
Yes, I punted, but I also got some terrific pictures!
CHIHULY GARDEN & GLASS
In an effort to prove that we can do both carnal and cultural, we visited an exhibit showcasing the studio glass of Dale Chihuly. We loved it and were blown away by the glass sculptures! Truly a sight to behold.
SNOQUALMIE FALLS
Located about 40 minutes east of Seattle, this is a "must see" attraction, as the location is breathtaking and the drop spectacular. To give you a sense, Niagara Falls is about 100 feet shorter (but is, of course, much wider). And, if anyone is a Twin Peaks fan (remember Lara Flynn Boyle before all the cosmetic surgery?!), it was featured in the opening credits of the show.
OUR VERY OWN PANAMA CANAL
Who knew the US had its own little version of the Panama Canal, which is pretty cool considering the Chinese now own the real Panama Canal?! The Hiram M. Chittenden Locks (aka the Ballard Locks) is a waterway system that connects the saltwater of the Puget Sound to the fresh water of Lake Union and Lake Washington. It was great fun seeing the locks in action! For all of my engineering geeks, it is truly a wonder!
And, if you look closely at the photos, the name on the first boat is Sydney -- cool, huh?!
Another great sight was the fish ladder, built to allow salmon to pass between fresh and salt water, and to navigate the locks. There is a glass observation room below the water line that makes it possible to watch the fish as they swim through the ladder. Super cute and almost made me want to stop eating salmon... almost.
WE FINALLY SAW A MOOSE!
For those of you who followed my blog last summer, you will recall that we never encountered the elusive moose in Maine and Canada. And, although I could easily pretend that this is a photo of a moose walking along the side of the road, I will give due credit to the Woodland Park Zoo (although, I do deserve a photo credit)!
RENTAL CAR TIP
Seattle airport, like most airports, has significant airport fees for rental cars, but a little Google search and mapping helped me to find an off-airport rental location that was close to the hotel. The cost savings for a multi-week rental were substantial, and the best part is that we are still able to return the car to the airport! Another great savings tip is to turn your smartphone into a navigation device by purchasing a windshield / dashboard car mount (see Amazon.com for options). The cost is only $20 and the good news is that you own it. Besides, the smartphone navigation system is much more user-friendly and comprehensive (not to mention cheaper) than the Neverlost system offered by Hertz.
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
Having Mt. Ranier as your backdrop -- priceless!
Riding the Seattle Center Monorail, with the girls sitting next to the conductor and honking the horn.
Taking a spin on the Seattle Great Wheel, which is 175 feet tall and extends 40 feet out over Elliott Bay. Expensive, but the views are breathtaking.
Attending a science show on liquid nitrogen, learning about dinosaurs and how the human brain works at the Seattle Science Center.
Visiting the Seattle Aquarium and getting up close and personal with a Giant Pacific Octopus, which grows bigger and lives longer than any other octopus species.
FAST FACT
The appendages of an octopus are called arms, not tentacles.
Okay, that's all for now. We arrived safely at our next destination -- San Juan Island -- so stay tuned for some fun updates on whale watching and island exploration! Love you and miss you much!